Arthur Sohmer

Summary

Arthur J. Sohmer (February 16, 1926 – August 25, 1991)[1] was an American attorney and government official who served as Chief of Staff to the Vice President to Vice President Spiro Agnew from 1969 to 1973.[2]

Arthur Sohmer
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
In office
1969–1973
Vice PresidentSpiro Agnew
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byRobert T. Hartmann
Personal details
BornFebruary 16, 1926
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 1991 (aged 65)
Woodstock, New York, U.S.
EducationLafayette College (BA)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD)
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education edit

Sohmer was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lafayette College and the law school at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.[2]

Career edit

Sohmer served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Sohmer moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1956. In 1962, he ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates but lost in the primary. Later that year, he managed Spiro Agnew's successful campaign for Baltimore County executive. Agnew was the first Republican to win that office, a feat not repeated until 1990. Sohmer was appointed by Agnew to the Baltimore County Tax Appeals Court in 1963 and became its chief judge in 1964. Sohmer also managed Agnew's successful campaign for governor of Maryland in 1966. Sohmer then managed appointments in the Maryland governor's office.

After Agnew was elected vice president in 1968 on a ticket with Richard Nixon, Sohmer became his chief of staff.[3] After Agnew's resignation in 1973, Sohmer held positions with the General Services Administration and the United States Railway Association.[4]

In 1978, Sohmer was a founding partner in the Learning Tree, a mail-order company dealing in special education materials.[2]

Personal life edit

Sohmer died of lung cancer at his home in Woodstock, New York in 1991 at the age of 65.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Persons born 16 February 1926". Social Security Death Master File. November 30, 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Arthur J. Sohmer obituary". Baltimore Sun. August 28, 1991.
  3. ^ Naughton, James M. (1970-12-27). "Whisperjet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  4. ^ "Notes on People". The New York Times. 1974-04-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-19.